Cell teat



v@MTE STATES PATENT ,OFFICEG WILLIAM A. MOORE, OE HAMPTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH C. HEATH, OF SAME PLACE.

CELL-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,864, dated Irdareh 31, 1885.

Application flell October 9, 13.84. (Model.)

To all when?, it' may concern: Be it known that l, WILLIAM A.` Moons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hampton, in the county of Elizabeth Gity'and State' ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cell-Trays, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying` drawings.

This invention relates to cell-trays for the transportation of eggs and other fragile articles; and the object ofthe invention is to provide a cell-tray made of lin or other sheet metal, and so constructed andjoined together that it will be capable offolding for transporta` tion and adapted for different-sized articles; and lthe invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a perspective, and Fig. 2 a section, of portions of a cell-tray constructed in accordance with my invention.

Like letters indicate like parts in both iigures.

It is a well-known fact among egg dealers that the ordinary cell-tray-t'- e., those made of straw-board-is open to many objections, one of which is that it` is not durable, and after being used once or twice it has to be cast aside, and should it become wet it falls apart; also, that in handling eggs-tliat is, in packing them for shipment-the joints of the tray are stiff and unyielding, anchas is often the case, eggs of unusual size are brok en, when being forced down into the tray, by reason thereof. To obviate these and many other obA jections, I construct my tray of sheet metal, preferably of tin, and cut and join the strips in such manner that they are capable of being pressed in any direction, thus enlarging the cells of the tray to fit differentsized eggs.

A represents the outer strips of a tray, which are slotted longitudinally, as at A, to within a short distance of their ends. The ends are joined by means ot a link, A2, thus forming a hinge or pivotaljoint, B, the ends of said strips being bent around the side pieces of the link, as at B. Y

G represents the inner cross-strips, which are zigzag incontour, they being slotted or recessed alternately at top and bottoni, as at C C2, these recesses being much wider than the thickness ofthe material. D'represents thelongitudinal strips, which,

Aso far as the joint is concerned, are cut out only on one side, as at D', so that the two strips interlock or straddlc each other, forming a loose pivotal joint that is capable of expansion'in either direction.

The ends ot' the crossstrips are slotted, as 6o at E, forming a T-head, E', which head e|nbraces the upper and lower rails formed by the longitudinal slot ofthe outer strip, A, and are capable of being slid or worked back and forth to form different-sized cells; and it will be readily seen that although the wholestructure is loosely joined together it is exceedingly strong and durable. By cutting out t-he strip C as shown at C material is not only saved, but the perforation or aperture also allows for 7o a free circulation of air, which is highly essential. By reason of the width of the slots at the halfjoints a certain degree of ventilation is afforded, and by reason of the portions removed from the strips, as at C', not 75 only do I provide for increased ventilation and save material, but reduce the rigidity of the stripsfso formed and further add to the eX- pansive features of the cell. The slots for1ning T-heads are so wide as to permit free 8o movement by said heads toward and from each other along the bars or rails formed by slotting the outer strips, so that when the tray is folded for transportation each end of each T- headed strip slides slightly along said rails, and the whole tray is therefore capable of being pressed into less space than when the engaging slotsV are narrower. ,The links employed at the ends of the outer strips-that is, atthe corners of the tray-are arranged ver-A 9o tical] y, in order to strengthen the outer strips, which otherwise would be too weak, by reason of the continuous longitudinal slot formed therein. The longitudinal strips D are also cutaway', as at D2, to further reduce the rigidity 9 5 ofthe walls of the cells, VVso that in case, by the insertion of an unusually large egg, the walls of'a cell are forced against the edges of the half-joints of the strips, the walls themselves will, by reason of the removed portions D2 O', 10o

in a measure yield.

Now, it will be seen that while describing my invention as maile of sheet metal, (inA this instance tin,) I may also construct it of strawboard or other light material, and While I lose the durable property herein set forth, still I gain other advantages of great value. Should they be manufactured of straw-board or veneer, &c., the link or hinge joint would have to be done away with and the strips interlocked at the corners in any well-known manner.

In packing eggs in cases it often happens that the larger eggs, or those of unusual size, are broken by being forced down into cells too small for their reception; and to obviate this is, as before stated, one of my chief objects; and it Will be seen from the foregoing description that should an egg of more than usual size be forced down into a cell of a tray constructed in accordance with my invention the sides of the cell will give Way, thus enlarging it to such an extent as to admit the egg without crushing the same, as heretofore, by reason of the stitfjoints.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a' cell-tray, the combination, With the side and adjacent end strips, of a vertical link pivoted at each side between the said strips, whereby, when closed or packed iiat, the link permits oflongitudinal movement ofsaid strips to a distance equaling the Width ot' the link, substantially as specified. y

2. In a cell-tray, the combination, with outer strips continuously slotted to near their ends and connected by vertical links, of a series of innerV strips half-jointed together and terminating in T-heads engaging the continuous slot of the outer strips, substantially as specied.

3. In acell-tray, the combination of a series l of longitudinal strips and a series of crossstrips half-jointed thereto by means of slots formed in the edges of both series, the slots being of much greater Width than the thickness of the material of which said strips are made, whereby expansion of the cells is secured, and the strips are capable of moving upon each other at all joints to permit of close compression iu packing the tray, substantially as specified.

4. In a cell-tray constructed of strips of tin or sheet metal, the combination of a series of longitudinal and transverse partitions or strips hallj ointed together, each of which is provided at each of its edges with slots of much greater width than the thickness of the material, and the ends of each of which are slotted to form T-heads, outer strips slotted longitudinally from nearly end to end, and vertical links connecting the outer strips at their ends, substantially as shown and described.

5. A cell-tray having at its corners outer strips connected by a vertical link by being bent around the same, substantially as speciiied.

6. The combination of `the cross-strips C, having the cut-out portions C, and the longitudinal strips D, having the cut-out portions D', these cut-out portions or slots being wider than the thickness of thematerial, whereby the two sets of strips are interlocked, forming loose or sliding joints capable of expansion, substantially as specied.

In testimony whereof II affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. MOORE. 

